John Thomas Krause

Monday

May 6, 2013 at 11:00 AM

John Thomas Krause, 66, of Watkinsville, Ga., died May 3, 2013.

Born in East Stroudsburg, he was a son of Mary Frances Bilodeau and the late Albert Eugene Krause.

Lt. Col. Krause retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 2006 following 42 years of service. He joined the Marine Corps in February 1964. Lt. Col. Krause served with distinction during two combat tours in Vietnam: the first tour with HMA-369 (1967 to 1968) in north Vietnam and the subsequent tour during operation MARHUK, along the coast of Vietnam. Other tours of duty include several NATO and Mediterranean deployments with numerous Marine operating units; Naval Safety Center, Norfolk, Va.; Air Warfare Directorate, Washington, D.C.; assistant aircraft maintenance officer, 1st MAW in Okinawa, Japan; deputy chief of staff, NATO School, Oberammergau, Germany; and a final tour of duty as The Expeditionary Strike Group/USMC Aircraft material readiness officer, Aircraft Material Readiness Directorate, Commander Naval Air Forces.

Lt. Col. Krause's personal awards include Combat Aircrew Wings with three Gold Stars; the Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; Air Medal (3 Strike/Flight), Air Medal (Single Mission for individual action); Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with Gold Star, in lieu of second award); Combat Action Ribbon; and various other unit and service awards.

He was a member of Marine Officers Association of America (MOAA) and Holy Cross Lutheran Church.

Survivors in addition to his mother include his wife, Callie Anderson Krause; his children: Andrew Krause (Erin) of Peachtree City, Ga.; John Krause Jr. (Karen) of Sharpsburg, Ga.; Chris Krause of Diamond Hill Community, Ga.; John Colquitt (Pam) of Winterville, Ga.; and Dawne Noah (Derek) of Douglasville, Ga.; his sister, Lynna June Piekutowski of Hudson, Ohio; seven grandchildren: John Tyler, Alexander, Alexis, Emma, Kate, Georgia and Brannon; and one niece and two nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Albert E. Krause; his brother, Gary A. Krause; and his daughter, Angela D. Colquitt.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 800. W. Lake Drive, Athens, Ga., with Dr. Norbert Hahn and Pastor Lowry Welton officiating. Interment will be at Colbert Cemetery, with full military honors.

Flowers are optional. Memorials may be made for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.